How to Grow and Care for Mountain heaths

Pink Mountain Heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis) is a perennial shrub native to the north Pacific area of North America. Its evergreen foliage features unusual leaves that are rolled so tightly that they look like pine needles. It blooms in summer with clusters of pink bell-shaped flowers.

Blue mountain heath (Phyllodoce caerulea) stands out for its gorgeous purple blooms that fade to pinky-blue. These blooms are what give the plant its specific epithet, caerulea, which translates to "blue" in Latin. You'll find this low-growing plant in cold boreal climates of the Northern Hemisphere. This plant is rare and has been a protected species in the United Kingdom since 1975.

Yellow mountain-heath is a captivating evergreen shrub with bell-shaped, pink to lavender flowers that exude a subtle fragrance. Its dark green, needle-like leaves form dense mats that adorn its low, mounding growth habit. Thriving in alpine and subalpine environments, this hardy species is adept at surviving in the thin soils and harsh climate of high-mountain terrains. The plant's glandular, sticky flowering stems are particularly distinctive, helping to deter herbivores while attracting pollinators.

Phyllodoce breweri is native to California. Short stems are lined with leathery evergreen needlelike leaves. The bright purple-pink flowers are cup-shaped as the petals are fused. At the center of the flower is a yellow ovary and ten long, protruding stamens tipped with large anthers.

Aleutian mountain heather is a hardy shrub found in alpine tundra ecosystems, adapted to withstand cold, wind, and poor soil conditions. Its evergreen leaves are narrow and leathery, forming dense mats that provide protection from harsh elements. In summer, aleutian mountain heather produces bell-shaped, pink to purple flowers, which stand out against the rugged landscape and attract pollinators. Its low stature and creeping habit are responses to the extreme environment it thrives in.